GCSE Results Day is one of the most memorable days in a student's school journey. For schools, it is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of their pupils and capture the excitement, pride and emotion that comes with receiving their results.
Recently, I returned to Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey, to photograph their GCSE Results Day. Having worked with the school for several years providing both photography and video services, it was a pleasure to return and capture another important day in the school's calendar.
The brief was simple: capture the genuine reactions and emotions of students receiving their GCSE results, as well as the moments they shared with their parents, families and teachers.
From tears of joy and hugs to high fives and plenty of smiles, there were countless moments throughout the day that told the story of Results Day.
Capturing the genuine moments of GCSE Results Day
Rather than simply photographing students holding their results, the aim was to create a gallery that captured the atmosphere and emotion of the entire day.
I used a mixture of candid, documentary-style photography alongside group photographs, allowing students, parents and teachers to interact naturally.
Results Day moves quickly. A reaction can last only a few seconds, so being in the right place at the right time is essential.
For this type of school event photography, I prefer a documentary approach. Instead of directing every moment, I allow events to unfold naturally and concentrate on anticipating what might happen next.
This helps create photographs that feel genuine and personal, giving students and their families images that capture how the day actually felt.
My approach to school event photography
I used two camera bodies throughout the shoot, one with a 24–70mm lens and another with a 70–200mm lens.
The 24–70mm lens is particularly useful for larger groups, environmental photographs and capturing several people within a scene. The 70–200mm lens allows me to photograph individuals from further away without interrupting what is happening around them.
The longer lens is especially useful for documentary-style school photography, as it allows moments to happen naturally without people necessarily being aware that they are being photographed.
There is also a lot of movement involved in photographing an event like GCSE Results Day. I was constantly moving around the school, looking for the next reaction, interaction or opportunity to capture an important moment.
Being familiar with the school environment makes a big difference, particularly when photographing fast-moving events.
A long-standing relationship with Kingswood House School
I have worked with Kingswood House School for several years, providing both school photography and school video production.
Over that time, I have photographed and filmed a wide range of events and activities at the school, including their Summer BBQ, Duke of Edinburgh Awards in the Surrey Hills, Prize Giving and Awards Day, and Sports Day.
Because of this ongoing relationship, many of the students recognise me when I visit. It is quite common for students to come over and ask what I will be creating for the school next, and there is often plenty of excitement around getting involved.
Having an established relationship with a school also means I can arrive at an event already familiar with the environment, the people and the way the school likes to present itself.
Rather than spending time getting to know the setting, I can concentrate on what matters most: capturing the people and moments that make the school unique.
A memorable moment from Results Day
One of the most memorable moments from the day involved a student who had achieved enough GCSE results to secure a place at the music college he had applied to.
He and his parents were incredibly happy and proud of his achievement, with tears of joy all round.
These are the moments that make GCSE Results Day photography so rewarding.
The photographs become more than simply images of a school event. They become a permanent reminder of an important achievement and a moment that families can look back on for years to come.
Creating photographs schools can use beyond the event
The final gallery provides Kingswood House School with a collection of images that can be used across a range of platforms and marketing materials.
These include:
- The school website
- Social media
- School newsletters
- Press coverage
- Prospectuses
- Marketing and promotional materials
Good school event photography can therefore have a much longer lifespan than the event itself.
Alongside documenting a particular occasion, the images can help schools communicate their culture, celebrate pupil achievements and showcase what life at the school is really like.
School photography and video production
GCSE Results Day is just one example of the photography services I provide for schools.
I work with schools across Surrey and London on a range of projects, including:
- School event photography
- GCSE Results Day photography
- Prospectus photography
- School marketing photography
- Staff and SLT photography
- Sports Day photography
- School promotional photography
- School video production
- School promotional video production
Whether the requirement is photography for a single event or a wider collection of images and video content, the aim is always the same: to create natural, engaging content that reflects the school and the people within it.
A combination of professional photography and school promotional video content can also give schools a valuable library of visual assets that can be used across their website, social media, prospectus and wider marketing.
School photographer in Surrey and London
Working with schools requires more than simply having the right equipment. It requires an understanding of how to work around students, staff and parents while remaining unobtrusive enough to capture genuine moments.
As a school photographer in Surrey and London, I regularly work with schools to capture events, pupil life and the people who make each school different.
The relationship built with a school is an important part of this. The more familiar I become with a school, the easier it is to anticipate the moments that are important to its pupils, staff and families.
For Kingswood House School, GCSE Results Day was another opportunity to document an important milestone and create photographs that can be enjoyed long after the results have been collected.
If your school is looking for a school photographer in London or Surrey, or would like to discuss school photography, event photography, school video production or a school promotional video, I would be happy to discuss your requirements.